A1000 Raid 5 Question

[gallows]

I am getting ready to set up an A1000 that has 12 36gb drives. I have to set it up as RAID 5. The A1000 is attached to a Sun 280R, Solaris 9.

Is there a recommended configuration for RAID 5 or do I just put all 12 disks in a Lun? I have plenty of spare disks and am not concerned about a hot spare.

Thanks,
Gallows

 

[Mike042]

I'm unsure whether there is a recommended configuration. Like you we have 12 x 36GB disks in an A1000. We 'inherited' it from another Sys Admin who configured it as 1 x RAID 5 array (ie in a single LUN). If we did it again, I would look at providing a 'Hot Spare' or maybe 2 x RAID 5 arrays (6 disks in each). But it is not essential, as we have only had 1 disk failure in more than 3 years. (Had to run in 'reduced mode' for nearly 3 days till we could get a replacement drive)

I hope that helps.

Mike

 

[KenCunningham]

Definitely go with the hot spare option, possibly even two. As Mike says, at least that gives you some breathing space should a drive or drives go awol.

 

[gallows]

Thanks Mike and Ken. That is what I ended up doing.

Regards,
Gallows